It´s almost time for the 77th edition of the Motocross of Nations. For the third time in history, the biggest motocross event of the year takes place in Matterley Basin, England after 2006 and 2017 editions.
This morning the gate positions for the qualification were drawn and Team Belgium had luck on their side, as they got the first place. This means Brent van Doninck (MXGP), Lucas Coenen (MX2) and Jago Geerts (OPEN) will be the first riders on choose gates for their respecitve qualifying races. On the other hand, Germany had zero luck, as they got the last gate.
Free Practice sessions have no bearing on gate picks for today’s qualifying races, as those were determined this morning by the ballot.
Team Guide:
SATURDAY TIMETABLE
*Based on Local Time
| Session | Class | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice | MXGP | 10:00 |
| Free Practice | MX2 | 10:50 |
| Free Practice | OPEN | 11:40 |
| Qualifying Heat | MXGP | 14:30 |
| Qualifying Heat | MX2 | 15:30 |
| Qualifying Heat | Open | 16:40 |
SUNDAY TIMETABLE
*Based on Local Time
| Session | Class | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Final B | 11:00 | |
| Race 1 | MXGP + MX2 | 13:10 |
| Race 2 | MX2 + OPEN | 14:40 |
| Race 3 | MXGP + OPEN | 15:50 |
PREVIEW
Team France come in as defending Champions, and in fact they have won six of the last nine Monster Energy Motocross of Nations titles! With exactly the same line-up as last year’s event, Romain Febvre, Tom Vialle, and Maxime Renaux will be wearing numbers 1, 2, and 3, and despite an injury-interrupted year for the two 450 riders, Vialle has had a strong season in the USA and could be the glue that keep this winning combination together. They are the only team with three World Champions in their line-up, although as with all of last year’s top four Nations, none of them have scored a GP win this season.
Team Australia feature two of the biggest stars in Motocross racing with brothers Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence both on factory 450 Honda machinery, joined by top Australian Championship rider Kyle Webster, and could well be the favourites for the event after finishing second last year. It would be their first ever success at the MXoN.
Note: Jett Lawrence traded position with Hunter Lawrence, as he moves from MXGP to OPEN while Hunter takes Jett´s spot in MXGP.
Team Italy were surprise podium finishers at Ernee last year, and racing with numbers 7, 8, and 9 they return with the same trio that got them there in ’23 ft. Alberto Forato, Andrea Adamo and Andrea Bonacorsi.
Team Germany, bring Ken Roczen back once more to the MXoN after he took overall victory in the MXGP class last year, and joined by Simon Laengenfelder. Amazingly, Simon wasn’t born when their Open class rider, Max Nagl, first competed at the Nations, but the 37-year-old has dominated the German International Championship in his home country.
Team Belgium have had a torrid end to the season with injuries, and at one point their participation looked to be in doubt, but Jago Geerts, Lucas Coenen, and Brent van Doninck will line up at Matterley.
After a disastrous event in 2023, Team Netherlands wear numbers 52, 53, and 54 this year, but Jeffrey Herlings has been phenomenal at times this season and will be going all-out for a second Nations win for his country, especially alongside new MX2 World Champion Kay de Wolf and many-time Nations winner Glenn Coldenhoff.
Eighth last year, Team USA look to have a stronger squad in 2024, despite the injury to their new 450 National Champion Chase Sexton. The legend of Eli Tomac will make his first appearance in the UK outdoors, and his addition is a mouth-watering prospect, especially alongside his experience teammate Cooper Webb, and the only returnee from last year’s event, Aaron Plessinger. They are definitely contenders for the podium, maybe even the win!
Team Slovenia and Team Great Britain were the other top ten teams last season, and five-time World Champion Tim Gajser will be keen to prove a point after narrowly losing the MXGP world crown a week ago. Jan Pancar is a rising star capable of getting amongst the top guys as well! The home team bring veteran Tommy Searle back to the MXGP class, with 2017 Matterley winner Max Anstie coming across from the USA to get the home crowd roaring once more! The enigma that is four-time British Champion Conrad Mewse, who has defeated Jeffrey Herlings in the UK this year, looks to bring his domestic pace to the Nations for his home fans!
